No international mover keeps a branch office on Koh Chang itself -- shipments clear customs in Bangkok or Laem Chabang first, then travel to Trat and finish the journey on the Ao Thammachat car ferry, the same crossing every truck, pet transfer and personal vehicle has to book onto. This guide covers what that means for your delivery timeline, the local moving market, and the customs and duty rules that apply wherever you land in Thailand.
No international mover keeps a branch office on Koh Chang itself -- shipments clear customs in Bangkok or Laem Chabang first, then travel to Trat and finish the journey on the Ao Thammachat car ferry, the same daylight-only crossing every truck, pet transfer and personal vehicle has to book onto. This guide covers what that means for your delivery timeline, the local moving market, and the customs and duty rules that apply wherever you land in Thailand.
Koh Chang has no international customs facility or deep-sea port of its own. International household shipments clear customs in Bangkok or at Laem Chabang port, then travel overland to Trat province before making the final crossing to the island by car ferry -- an extra leg most mainland moves don't need to plan for.
Sea freight (roughly six to ten weeks door to door) remains the most economical option for a full household; air freight into Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang still needs the same overland transfer to Trat and the same car-ferry crossing afterward. Because Koh Chang has no bridge, every truck -- however it arrives -- ends its journey on the Ao Thammachat to Ao Sapparot vehicle ferry (about THB 120 per vehicle one way, running roughly 06:30-18:30, cash only, no advance booking), so build that crossing into your delivery-day timing.
International movers with an established Thailand presence -- Asian Tigers, Crown Relocations, Allied Thailand, AGS Movers and Siam Relocation among them -- typically quote delivery through their Bangkok operation with a subcontracted final leg to Trat and across the Ao Thammachat car ferry, rather than a dedicated Koh Chang office. Ask specifically whether the quoted price and delivery window already account for the ferry crossing, since sailings run only in daylight hours and can be affected by weather or queues in peak season.
The established international relocation names all serve Koh Chang from their Bangkok base rather than a local branch -- expect your quote and coordination to run through Bangkok, with the truck itself only reaching the island on the car ferry.
Teemove runs a dedicated Ko Chang service page as part of its Trat-district coverage (alongside Laem Ngop, Khao Saming, Khlong Yai and Mueang Trat), offering pickup, 4-wheeler and 6-wheeler trucks with a packing, wrapping and furniture disassembly/assembly crew -- contact via Line @teemove_en or tel. 091-854-0271 (Mr. Tee). This is a domestic truck-hire and moving-labour service, not a customs-capable international mover, and its truck rides the same Ao Thammachat car ferry as any other vehicle, so agree a realistic pickup window around the sailing schedule.
The island's long-stay housing stock is overwhelmingly furnished bungalows, houses and villas rather than empty condos, so many renters need to bring little beyond personal effects. Anyone furnishing from scratch is generally better served by the larger retailers in Trat town on the mainland -- one ferry crossing away -- than trying to source big-ticket furniture on the island itself.
Thai customs can grant relief from import duty on used personal and household effects for people taking up long-term residence, subject to conditions on your visa, timing and that the goods are genuinely used and in reasonable quantity. Have your mover's customs broker confirm your specific eligibility before the shipment leaves its origin country.
Because your goods clear customs in Bangkok or Laem Chabang before continuing to Trat and the island, any paperwork issue that surfaces after the shipment has left is easiest to resolve if you still have your Bangkok-based customs broker's direct contact. Keep copies of your full document set -- passport, visa, inventory and bill of lading -- until delivery is fully confirmed.
Pet relocation flights land in Bangkok, then need an overland transfer to Trat and the same Ao Thammachat car-ferry crossing to reach the island, coordinated through a specialist pet-relocation agent. Bringing your own car follows separate, stricter customs rules and also has to book onto the vehicle ferry (about THB 120 one way, cash only) every time it crosses -- many long-stayers find it simpler to buy or lease a car locally on Koh Chang instead.
Plan for roughly six to ten weeks door to door by sea freight, plus customs clearance in Bangkok or Laem Chabang, an overland transfer to Trat, and the Ao Thammachat car-ferry crossing to the island. Build a buffer into your move-in date for the daylight-only ferry schedule.
Costs follow the usual sea-versus-air trade-off, plus the modest extra of the Trat transfer and car-ferry crossing (about THB 120 per vehicle one way). Get three written quotes from nationwide operators like Asian Tigers, Crown Relocations, Allied or Siam Relocation, and confirm the ferry leg is included in the price and timeline.
No international mover is headquartered on the island -- nationwide operators serve it from Bangkok via Trat. For a domestic move, Teemove runs a genuine dedicated Ko Chang truck-hire page (pickup, 4-wheeler and 6-wheeler trucks with packing and assembly help), though its truck still has to cross on the same car ferry as any other vehicle.
Not necessarily -- most long-stay rentals on Koh Chang already come furnished, which is why many renters bring only personal effects. If you do need furniture, Trat town on the mainland has the nearest larger retailers, one ferry crossing from the island.
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
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Hero photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels. General information only; shipping costs, ferry schedules and fares, mover policies, and Thai customs and duty rules change - confirm current requirements and your eligibility with your chosen mover, their Thai customs broker and the Thai Customs Department before you rely on them.